REAPER SCANS
Reincarnator’s Stream
[Translator – SCM]
[Proofreader – ilafy]
Chapter 136
While Su-hyeok and Viola followed Tyr, Vigo, finally alone, headed back toward a tall tower located in the center of Midgard. After climbing the stairs, a familiar face waited for him.
"Vigo-!" A middle-aged man with green eyes approached Vigo and hugged him. Although it was an embarrassing greeting, it didn't matter. After all, it'd been hundreds of years since they last saw each other.
"Captain Baldur!"
"Long time no see. Are you really back now? Was the mission successful?"
"Yes. It's all over now."
"After hearing it was a Valkyrie's mission, I was against it, yet you insisted on going."
"It was a rewarding mission." Vigo smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. "Ah, I heard you became Midgard's commander. Congratulations."
"Congratulating me for something that happened so long ago? Anyway, let's go inside first."
The two headed to the commander's office.
Vigo's eyes widened at the spacious room, the new-looking furniture, and the luxurious teacups. "You've really succeeded."
Click—
Baldur served him some tea. He shrugged and said, "So what? We're still under the feet of the gods."
"That's…" The statement had some truth to it. There was nothing to add. It was a well-known fact that no one from Midgard had ever gone to the world of the gods, Valhalla.
Baldur smiled. "Back in the day, we used to have fun gossiping about the gods."
Vigo smiled back. "That's right. We did."
"How have you been? Tell me about it."
"Yes." Vigo recounted what he’d gone through—the tedious mission of 400 years, the betrayal of Valkyrie Velveim; the human who suddenly joined… The long story came to an end.
"Really…? Sir Tyr himself went to greet the human?" Baldur muttered while holding his teacup, his green eyes narrowing. "He really has nothing better to do."
"Right?" The tea turned lukewarm during the long story.
Baldur, after taking a light sip, looked at his reflection in the tea. "I hope he passes the test."
"Why?"
"Shouldn't the gods know?" He put down the teacup and smiled, looking slightly different from the captain Vigo remembered. "Valhalla doesn't only belong to them."
* * *
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Translator - SCM
Proofreader - ilafy
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* * *
Su-hyeok followed Tyr and Viola, his eyes placed on Tyr's only arm. One of his arms was probably either cut or torn off; it was the most noticeable part of Tyr's appearance.
"Why are you staring so hard?"
"Because I'm curious."
"This arm?"
"Yes. Even gods like you can be hurt?"
Tyr, walking ahead, glanced back at Su-hyeok. "Do you know who I am?"
"I can tell you're an important figure based on Viola's reaction."
"Is that so? Well, I guess there's no way you'd know." Tyr looked down at his missing arm.
Seeing his reaction, Su-hyeok asked on a whim, "Is there a connection between that arm and your dislike for humans?"
For a brief moment, Tyr halted but then continued. "After that question, I dislike you even more now…"
"If I become likable, will I get an answer?"
"Probably," Tyr sneered and resumed his pace. "Although that might be harder than entering Valhalla."
"It seems so."
Tyr was a very strict god. Was it even possible to win his favor? If there was a reason behind his dislike for humans, it might be possible, but if it were just instinctive, like disliking creepy bugs or monsters…
'Then it might be impossible.'
Su-hyeok had two reasons for trying to win his favor: the sudden appearance of a higher god might increase the scale of the test, so if he could win his favor, it would be priceless. On top of that…
['God of Disease' has registered a mission.]
[1,000 points if you ask him why his arm is like that.]
['God of Disease' has registered a mission.]
[10,000 points if you get an answer, hahaha.]
There was a small mission at stake.
Step—
Guided by Tyr, the three arrived at a high staircase hidden by clouds. The atmosphere was quite solemn. Su-hyeok realized that the top of the stairs was the test site.
"The Valkyrie's accompaniment ends here."
"Understood." After a moment of hesitation, Viola stopped without arguing. Given her personality, he thought that she would argue at least once, but it seemed that she'd succumbed to Tyr's authority. "Sorry. It seems I can only accompany you until here."
"It’s a test I have to face alone, anyway. There's no need to apologize."
"Take this." Viola took something out of her pocket and handed it to him—a white, square, card-like object.
When Su-hyeok looked at her in confusion, Viola answered, "It's a one-time use voice kit for communication. Please, contact me when you finish the test and return."
- What's this?
- Is it a request for a second date?
- Woah~
- Beep. It's a green light.
- Hyung… I'm saying this because I'm jealous, but can't you just go and die?
What Viola handed over resembled a player kit in shape and function. The only difference was that it was more outdated than a player kit.
Putting it inside his pocket, Su-hyeok nodded. "I will."
"I still haven't repaid my debt to you, and that's a disgrace for a warrior."
"You don't need to emphasize it so much. I'll contact you." She was an important guide. He was planning to find her after the test anyway, so it made things easier.
"Then, I'll be back." Su-hyeok began to climb the stairs, gradually walking into the clouds.
* * *
As Su-hyeok climbed the stairs and entered the clouds, Tyr clicked his tongue. "So he's gone." Having finished his business, Tyr turned around. "Do you think he's going to pass?" he asked Viola.
"I've seen his skills." Viola nodded, sounding confident. "He will definitely pass."
"He's probably stronger than most Valkyries," he replied in a tone that suggested he knew everything. Even so, Tyr thought that Su-hyeok would ultimately fail. "It isn't a matter of skill."
"Then?"
"The problem is that he's human."
It was hard to understand, but suddenly, a memory came to mind.
"The gods of Asgard will never accept us."
She didn't think too much about what that meant back then. After all, she thought there was no way it was true.
'Who was it?' She tried to recall. It wasn't hard to remember. After all, he wasn't easy to forget. 'Captain Baldur.'
Vigo's former superior. It was something he used to say. For a long time, Viola thought that Valhalla's test was open to everyone, that those who passed could gain the right to step into Valhalla, and that everyone had the chance to do so.
However, Tyr had spoken as if that wasn't the case.
"Since he's decided to take the test, that's enough." Tyr turned around as if he were certain that Su-hyeok would fail. "I'll come back later to collect the body."
* * *
The clouds felt quite warm. Comfortable and soft, it literally felt like he was being wrapped in a blanket. Was it because of his past experiences? Su-hyeok was wary of the unfamiliar feeling.
'A little tension is necessary.' He sharpened his sword senses to avoid being intoxicated by the clouds, but overcoming boredom was solely his responsibility.
- How far does this go?
- It's been over ten minutes.
- This is hellish cardio.
The staircase stretched on for quite a while. As he continued walking through the clouds, he heard footsteps that weren’t his.
Looking up, Su-hyeok saw the figure of an unfamiliar warrior hidden in the cloudy mist.
"A human?" A man with a butterfly-shaped tattoo on his face descended the stairs. Seeing Su-hyeok, he asked in surprise, "Did you really come here to take Valhalla’s test?"
"Yes."
[Starting 'Valhalla's Test.']
[Walk along the stairs of Valhalla.]
[The stairs hold the memories of warriors waiting to test you.]
[Gain the recognition of at least 10 warriors.]
[The more warriors recognize you, the stronger Valhalla's Blessing will be.]
Su-hyeok nodded at the long message. 'So I just have to win and climb up.'
The warrior in front of him, who didn't know about the system, laughed hollowly. "Even if I'm just a memory from the past… To think I'd have to face a human."
"A memory from the past? What do you mean?"
"It's exactly as it sounds. I'm just an old form of the god Thoom who entered Valhalla."
Su-hyeok asked, "So you're a fake created by the test?"
"Even so, isn't calling me a fake too much?"
Su-hyeok's gaze turned to the long staircase behind Thoom that stretched on endlessly. The top was still covered in clouds, making it hard to see with the naked eye, but one thing was clear: the higher he went, the stronger the opponents would become.
'If they're the old forms of the gods, then who else will appear?'
There were no limits to the test. Although he was told to face at least 10, he could probably face more.
How far could he go, and who would be waiting at the end of the staircase?
'I'm curious.' Curiosity and anticipation arose. His interest in the warrior before him had already faded.
Had he noticed that? "Where are you looking?" Thoom, showing an unpleasant expression, drew a long spear from his back. "You're acting as if you've already surpassed me."
"Well, you're the first."
"Do you know that, out of the warriors who take Valhalla's test, eight out of ten fail to surpass me." Thoom slammed the spear shaft down, the stairs trembled slightly, and he pointed at Su-hyeok with his other hand. "On top of that, you're just a huma—"
Flash—
A yellow light burst in front of Thoom.
"…!!!" Thoom's eyes widened. Shocked, he had no time to process what had happened before his consciousness started to fade.
Thud—
His body fell forward weakly and rolled down the stairs.
"See? It was easy." As he began to climb the stairs again, Su-hyeok passed by Thoom. "That’s one down."
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